Johnny Cueto unhappy with Royals over White House snub

Giants and former Royals pitcher Johnny Cueto voiced his frustration at Kansas City opting not to invite him on their White House trip.

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Giants and former Royals pitcher Johnny Cueto voiced his frustration at Kansas City opting not to invite him on their White House trip.

Cueto played a large role in the Royals’ title run last October, tossing a shutout in Game 2 of the World Series against the Mets. He joined the Giants as a free agent in the off-season. Despite Cueto and San Francisco having an off day and traveling on the East Coast, the Royals opted not to extend the invitation for him to join them on their visit.

“I believe that I earned it,” Cueto told reporters through an interpreter, according to the Mercury News. “I was on the team. I did something for the team to win the World Series. So yes, I was expecting it.

“I feel OK, I feel normal,” said Cueto on Saturday. “But I also feel it’s the organization’s responsibility to invite me. I did a job for them so I feel they should have had the courtesy to invite me.”

The Royals also declined to invite outfielder Jonny Gomes (who was not on the playoff roster), infielder Ben Zobrist (now with the Cubs) and other club personnel. The team has said that it was operating under restrictions from the White House and wouldn’t invite anyone not currently on the team nor anyone not on the playoff roster.